Deacon John Masla, who served about a decade in the permanent diaconate — including nearly two years at St. Ambrose in Woodbury before retiring from active ministry, and eight years in Sacramento, California — died April 3. He was 94.
His wife of 70 years, Mary Lou, said her husband, a native of Chicago, was an administrator and consultant in higher education. He ministered at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento, where he was ordained May 30, 1992. She and her husband moved to Woodbury in 2000 to be closer to family. They first met while he attended then-St. Mary College, now St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, and she attended then-College of St. Teresa, both in Winona.
In addition to his wife, Deacon Masla is survived by seven of eight children, 19 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. April 14 at St. Ambrose, preceded by 10 a.m. visitation.
